Strap stretching and sealing device



Nov. 2, 1937. w. c. CHILDRES S STRAP STRETCHING AND SEALING DEVICE Filed Aug. 22, 1932 4 Sheets-She d 1 Even Z Z)? a. Wei/less Nov. 2, 1937. w. c. CHILDRESS I STRAP STRETCHING AND SEALING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 22, 1932 Nov. 2,1937. w. c. CHILDRESS STRAP STRETCHING AND SEALING DEVICE Filed Aug. 22 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 J00 V k I: v I J06 56 Q6 as Patented Nov. 2, 1937 UNITED "STATES PATENT; OFFICE.

2.097.443 4 stair 'S'lRETCHING AND SEALING nnvrcr. 4

William 0. Childress, Oak ParkQ' nl., assignor to Acme Steel Company, Chlcago, Iil.,= a corporatlon of Illinois sealing devices andits purpose is to provide a combination toolwhich may be employed to stretch a metal strap around a box.or bale, for

example, and then unite'the overlapping ends of the strap by means of a: seal which is applied thereto by the tool anddeformed in order to form an interlocking joint. The device of the present invention isin many respects similar to thatdescribed, in my co-pen ding application Serial lio. 592,050,.filed February 10, 1932, but differs chiefly inthe fact that the present improvement is adapted to hold and apply to the overlapping strap ends a separate metal seal, whereas the device of said application is intended primarily to unite the overlapping'ends of a strap by deforming portions or the strap-alone to provide an interlocking joint.. The principal object of the present invention is to provide an improved device adapted to'stretch a strap taut around a. l box or package, or a group of boxesor packages.

and; then unite the ends of the strap by means of. a seal which is held in the tool during the process of applyin it to the strap.- Another 5 object of. the invent on isto provide an improved strap sealing device embodying improved means forholding and accurately positioning a metal seal for application to overlapping strap ends by relative movement of certain parts of the tool. Another object of the invention isto provide an improved strap sealing device comprising means .'for permitting a channel-shaped seal to be snapped into interlocking engagement therewith in readiness for application to the ends of the strap to be unite thereby. A further object of i the invention to provide a. combination stretching and sealIng'deVice having means for stretching the strap taut, then cuttingv oflf the *strapfrom the source of supply and finally unit- '40 mg the ends oi-the strap by means of a seal which is automatically held in .the device while being applied to the overlapping strap enda Other'objects relate to various features of construction and arrangement which will appear more fully hereinafter. a A

. The nature of the invention will be understood from the following specification taken with the accompanying drawings, in which one embodiment is illustrated. In'the drawings; l

. 1 shows a side elevation of a box and of the improved stretching and sealing device of the present invention in position to apply a rein- ,forcing strap or binderabout the box;

as 'Fig. 2 shows a perspective View oi'a iorm Q1 n Fig. 6 shows asectional view taken on the line line 8-8 of Fig. "I;

H'Of FIE. 3; 10

Fig. 7 shows a top plan view 0! the lower portion of the deviceof thepresent invention, a portion thereoi'being illustrated in horizontal" section taken on the line '|-1 of Flg. '8; l I

Fig. 8 shows a front elevation or the improved 15 strap stretching and sealing device illustrated in Figs. 1 and 7; v

Fig. -9 shows a vertical'section taken on the Fig. 10 shows a vertical section taken on the line l0'll of Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 shows a'vertical. section taken on the lines Il.-H oi'FigsJl and 8; v

Fig. 12 shows a vertical section taken on the line l2l2 of Fig. 16;

, 1 2 j Fig. 13 shows a vertical section taken on the 6 irregular line l3-l3 of Fig.- Lillustrating the relative positions of the parts whenthe movable seal car y head is in its 'normal upper position; g 3 Fig.'14 is a perspective view oi-the-movable cut'-' ting bladeanddie;

Fig. 15 isa perspective ,view of the stationary cutting die;'

Fig. 1.6 is-a sectional view like that 0! Fi 13, 35 showing the relative positions of the parts alter the movable head of the device has been lowered to eilect the cutting oil. of the strap from the source oi supply and to cause the seal to embrace the overlapping ends oi! the strap; 4

Fig. 1'7 is a'vertic'al' section taken on the line lI-ll of Fig. 7, showing the relative positions of the parts when the jaws of the seal carrying head have been tnoved inwardly toward'each other to bend the seal about the strap ends and eflect'the- 45 shearing ofthe edges of the strap'and seal;

Fig. 18 is an enlarged sectional view taken on thelineill-J8 of Fig. 22, showing the relative positions of the Jaws when the head is in its 50 upper position with a seal inserted between the,

jaws;

I ig.- -19 shows a sectionalview 'takbn on the u e i9-l9 ofFig.18; F e- 20 is a sectional view-similar to that of 55 around the ends- Fig: 18, showing the relative positions of'the parts after the jaws have been closed upon each other to bend; the side wallseof the seal about the overlapping strap ends and to effect the shearing of 5 the edges of the strap and seal to form an interlockingjoint;

Fig. 21 showspona reduced scale,- a bottom p an View of the jaws and side plates of the movable head before placing a seal therein; and

F 8. 22 is a bottom plan view of the seal and head, similar to that of Fig. 21, showing a sealin place between the jaws.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, the improved strap stretching and sealing device 25, embodying the l5 features-of the present invention, is illustrated in position on top of a box 25 which has applied theretoa pair of steel straps 21 which surround the box and which are united at their ends by means of the device 25 shown in operative position 20 with respect to'one of these straps. JI'he endsof each strap 21 are adapted to be engaged by gripping devices embodied in the tool 25 which is.

operated to draw the strap taut around the ,-box. -When this stretching operation has been a 25' completed, the sealing device is operated to place over the overlapping strap ends a channel-shaped metal seal which has previously been inserted in" .the movable head of the tool and the downward movement of this movable head is adapted to I place the seal in position over the strap ends and thento bend the walls of the seal about. the strap and shear the edges of the strap and seal to form an interlocking joint of the type described and claimed in the United States patent .of 35"Ralph H. Norton No. ,1,260,01.6,'dat'ed March 19.,

i 1918. The improved sealing deviceof the present invention is adapted particularly to operate upon an improved form. of seal 30, shown in Fig. "2, which isdescrib'ed and claimed in the co-pending do application of Chester M. Macche'sney Serial .No.-

629,918, filed August 22, 19352, now issued as Patent' Number 1,988,742, dated January 22, 1935. This seal is in the form of a channel-shaped member having a back wall 30' and side walls 30" which diverge therefrom to their outer edges.

'1his flared arrangement of the side walls of the seal permits it to be readily applied to the overlapping ends of the strap and facilitates the holding of the seal in the sealing device'25 during ldthe operation of applying it to the overlapping strap-ends. seal is formed of metal which is hard and stiff but whichhas a slight resiliency and suiilcient ductility i'to cause it to retain a Permanent set after the walls 30* have bee n'bent of the strap. The-edges of the side walls 30 are punched outwardly at points midway between their ends' to form outwardly extending projections 30 which serve to position" the seal within the1to0l as hereinafter described.

' After the ends 21* and 21 of ,the strap have been overlapped and while they are held taut by the stretching device, the end 21 of the strap iscut off from the source of supply and the sealing blank 30 is operated upon by the device 25 to bend the walls 3|! inwardly beneath the strap' ends intoposltion where they lie substantially parallel to the top or back wall 30"- located on the upper side of the strap. The cutting dies'carried by the movable 'jaws of thedevice 25 then 70 operate upon the lateral edges of the strap and seal to shear them along transverse lines 3 I. 'At

-least one pair of cuts 3| "is preferably formed along each edge of the seal and the metal between the cuts of each. pair is deflected down- II wardly by the cutting dies to form angularly distion 21 of. the strap which is seated upon the I .65 been iriserte d b eneath posed tongues or projections 32, the edges of which cross the edges of the body portions of the strap and seal along the lines 3 I, thus forming an;

interlocking joint, as shown particularly-in Figs.

3, 4, 5, and 6. 5'

The sealing device 25 comprises a base plate 33 which is adapted to restupon the surface of a box or package about which a strap 21 is to bedrawn taut and sealed. This plate 33-preferably has the irregular contour shown in Fig. 7 and the 1 forward portion thereof is providedfwith a pair of relatively movable gripping devices .which are I adapted to' grip\the opposite end portions of the strap and to hold them while the strap is being drawn taut. For this purpose, the forward portion of the base plate 33 is provided with an upwardly extending integral block or boss 34 having an overhanging flange 34 adapted to conform to and contact with the curved upperedge of a gripping dog 35 which is pivotally mounted upon a pin 35 engaging the back wall of this boss, as. shown particularly in Fig. 10. This gripping'dog '35 is provided on its under side with a serrated gripping surface 35' which is adapted to coact with the upper side of the end portion 2'! of thef strap 21 when this strap is seated upon the gripping .plate or flange 3'I projecting from the forward edge of the base plate 33. This gripping plate or flange has its outer edges bev- I eled as shown at 31 to'facilitate the insertion of the strap in position beneath the gripping dog which is similarly provided with a tapered pro;- jecting portion 35 adapted tocooperate with the beveled surface.3|'- to form a tapered passage to receive the strap. The serrated surface 35! of 36 the gripping dog 351s offset, toward the right as. viewed in Fig. 8, with respect to the vertical plane of the pivot pin 35 so that when the end 21 of the strap is inserted beneath it, a pull on the strap toward the left, as viewed in Fig. 8, 'wuiuo tend automatically to increase the grip of the dog 35 upon the strap. 'When a pull is exerted upon the strap in the opposite direction, the dog 35 tends to release its grip so that the strap may be readily removed from its position over'the plate '45 The gripping ,dog'35 is provided between its gripping surface and the pivot pin 35 with an inwardly extending slot 35 adapted to receive the body portion of the strap 21 after the strap has been passed around the box or package. Thisto supply portion of the strap isadapted to be held in this slot 35 byfrictional engagement with a ball38 which is pressed. downwardly by a coil spring 33 enga ng a'recessin the-gripping dog 35 and an aligning passage in the overhanging portion of the boss 35. A threaded plug 43 adjustably engages the upper'end ofthe passage in the boss 35 to coact withthe upper end of this "spring and this plug maybe adjusted to vaiy 'the compression of the spring which, in addition to maintaining the ball 33 in contact "with the sup- I ply'portion of the strap 21, also forcesthe dog 35' downwardly into engagement with the end porplate or flange 31. a 'After the strap 21 has the dog 35 and passed around the box or po.clr-

-age, .the other end portion 21' thereof" i's'place'd in position to be gripped by. a movable gripping device comprising a block 44 which is slidably mounted on the front portion of the base plate 33 at the end thereofopposite the block 34, being secured by cap/screws) to the end of a bar 45 which isv slidably mounted on; the base plate tor movement parallel-to the front edgejthereof fli around the package. As. shown particularly in Figs. 7, 8, and 11, the block comprises an overhanging portion 44" which is curved to conform to the curvature of the contactinggrip ping dog 41 which is pivotaliy mounted upon a pin 48 engaging the rear wall of the block. The gripping dog 41 is provided on its under side with a serrated gripping surface 41* which is adapted to coact with the upper side of the end portion 21 of the strap when the strap is seated upon the gripping plate or flange 49 which projects \forwardly from the lowerpart of theblock 44.

The gripping dog" is inclined so that the gripping surface 41 is ofiset toward the left, as viewed in Fig. 8, from a vertical plane passing through the axis of the pin 48 so that a pull upon the strap 21 toward the right, as viewed in Fig. 8, tends to increase the grip of the dog 41 upon the strap, while a pull upon the strap in the opposite direction serves to effect the automatic release of the strap from the grip of the dog. This grippingf'dog 41 is moved into engagement with the strap by a coil spring 5|) which engages 25 a passage 5| formed in the overhanging portion of the block 44 with one end thereof engaging the inclined upper surface of the gripping dog and with the other end engaging a plug 52 which threadedly engages the passage 5| to permit ad justment of the compression of the spring. The

formed on the base plate 33. This screw 53 may be adjustedinits position within. this boss and held in place by a lock nut 55 so that it deter- 40 minesthe initial position of the block 44 at the commencement of the strap stretching operation. This permits a variation in the amplitude of the stretching movement of the block- 44 and the gripping dogs carried thereby.

in the upper side of the "base plate 33, as shown particularly in Figs. 13 and 16, and it is held pivotally connected to the lever 55 W a pin 55 -whlch passes vertically through the body portionof the lever, through the reenforcingbar and through the reversely bent portion 60. \These parts are embraced andheld against upward 5 movement by a yoke 51 whichis secured to the base plate 33 by. screws 58 extending upwardly The bar 46 slides in a groove 55 which is formed 4 against upward movement by the bars 51 and 58 which are secured to the upper side of the'base 50 plate to bridge the groove 5.6 in spaced relation to 60 which passes throu h the upper and lower flanges 53 and 58 respec ively, of this block, as illustrated in Figs. 7 and 9. The lever 50 is adapted to be oscillated about the pin 62' to cause it to assume the position shown by dotted lines at 60" 65 in Fig; '7, thereby causing movement of the block 44 toward the block 34 for thepurpose of drawing the strap 21 taut around the box orrpackage. The lever 50 is reenforced on its upper side by a bar 50 which has the forward portion thereof bent upwardly to overlie the rear end of the link 53, as shown in Fig. 13, and the'rear end of the lever 50 is reversely bent to form a part 509 which extends parallel to the body portion thereof and which is adapted to receive beneath it the rear -7 flattened end 65 0: a link This link a is of relative movement without disturbing the pofrom the .bottom thereof. as shown in Fig. 13. The forward end 'of the link 65 has a flange 55 lying in a vertical plane, which engages the slot. 10 55" formed in a crank arm 69 which is eonstructed integrallywith the hub 10 of an operating lever ll adapted to be manually manipulated to effect the stretching of the strap. The fiange 55 of the link 65 is pivotally connected to the crank 15 arm 59 by a pin H and the hub 10 of the operating lever is secured by a transverse pin vl2 upon a shaft 13 which is joumaled in bushings 14 mounted in apertures formed in upwardly ex.- tending arms or posts 15 secured to or formed in 20 tegrally. with the base plate 33. A washer 15 of leather or other friction. material is secured to the side of .one of the posts 15 to bear against the .hub I0- of the lever or handle 10 and a coil spring TI is mounted on the shaft 13 to bear against 'acollar I8 fixed on the shaft and against the bushing 14 in the post 15 adjacent the'hub. K

l0 and thus hold the shaft I3 in its bearings and maintain the hub Ili ire frictional contact with 30 the leather washer. This construction is adapted to hold the lever III in any desired adjusted position, thus maintaining a corresponding fixed spaced relation of the blocks 34 and 44 after the strap has been drawn taut by the operation of the handle 10. An important advantage of this construction is that the 'operationpf the lever 10 producesa rapid relative movement of the blocks 34 and 44 during the early part of the I stretching operation when thestrap is comparatively' slack, while the rapidity of motion decreases and the force exerted upon the strap increases as the final stages of the stretching opera- L tion are approached. This permits the tool to be d in stretching a strap in,a single operation compared with the use of several tools or several operations, which has been the practice heretofore. The sealing of the overlapping ends of the strap by the application thereto of a seal-30 is eifected 50 by a-movable head '80 comprising a pair of sideplates 8| which are pivotally mounted on'a shaft 82 fixed in the lower parts of the posts 15, as shown particularly in Fig. 17. The plates 8| are notched on their upper sides as shown at 8| to 5 receive the shaft I3 when they are in theiruppermost positions and they are adapted to receive between" them a pair of jaw members 83 which are pivotally mounted upon pins 84 secured 'in the side plates 8| Each jaw member 83 is preferably formedas an integral member and is pro.- vided on its inner side with a curved surface 83" concentric with its pivotal axis and adapted to move in proximity to the corresponding surface on the other jaw member, as shown in Figs. 17, 65 18; and 20.. Between these curved surfaces, there ismoiinted a. seal supporting member or saddle 85 which is substantially triangular in cross-section, havin curved surfaces 85 which are adapt ed to coact with the curved surfaces 83"? of the.- jaw members. This saddle 85 is provided at each end with an integral projecting trunnion 85 and these trunnions engage apertures in the side plates 8| to support. saddle in position between the jaw membi's;.wliich are thus capable sition of the saddle. The lower portions or the jaw members 83 are provided with inwardly projecting books or jaws 8 8 having notches 83 therein to receive the'lower portions of the side '5 walls su r theseal-SII when this seal is placed in position between them, .as shown in Fig. 18.

The lower walls 83 of these notches engage the" extreme edges'3ll of the seal andthus hold the seal in place in positionto straddle the overlap-' ping ends ofthe strap. 21 when the head 88 is Z lowered from its normal upper position, shown in Fig. 13, in' which the seal 381s placed therein.

Zl'he members are under-cut beneath the jaws 83'! as shown at 83. The jaw members are further provided with slots 83 which extend inwardlyifrom .the lower edges thereof through the jaws 83 and through the. curved surfaces 85.

These slots 83 'are adaptedto be engaged by cut-" pins as with'links .88which engage slots as:

- formed in; theupper ends of these arms. The;

7 other link-81 by'means'oi a pin 88. The lower.

ting dies 81 .whichhave cutting edges 81 projecting into the under-cut recesses 83 beneath the jaws 83 and theseflattened portions'engage the side walls or openings 83 which are formed in the jaw members. which are engaged by.

the enlarged cylindrical portions 81 of the cuttingdies. Each of the bores 83 is enlarged at its outer end to receive a pair of threaded plugs 88 which may be locked in adjusted positio to hold the adjacent cutting die 81 in a positio wherein it will project to the desired extent'i ardly beneath theadjacent jaw 83'. The ed of the slots'83 in the jaw members are adapted to form complementary cutting dies which cooperate with the dies 81 "to effect the shearing of the edges of the strap and sealas the jaws 83 approach the ative movement. of the'jaw members ccntinues,

the. cutting dies 81 engage .the edges of the seal'and effect a sharing action as shownin Fig. 28, while at'the same timedeflecting portionsof 5 the strap and seal to form the projecting. tongues The jaw embers fllhave arms 88! which extendupwardlyirom thepivot pins 88 and which are' pivotally connected at their upper ends by 'links 88 are pivotallyconn'ected by pins 8I with opposite sides of the-hub portion '82- of ari oper-' .ating lever 82 whichis pivotally mounted on a 5 pin as carried bythe side plates c1. The turning oithe lever 82 about the pin 88 is adapted tospread the links 88 and the arms 88 of the jaw members so .that the jaws 88 of, these membersously been described. when the head 88 is in its uppermost position,;as shown in Fig. 13, the elon-- gated hub 82' or the operating lever is positioned endwise between-the'arms 88 of the jaw mem-j- 5 bers and a, projection 82'' on the hub, engages a spacer bar. 88'wlii'ch extends between the side plates 8I,'thus limitingji'urther inovement o! the lever 82, towardtheleftas-viewed in Fig. 13. The jaw member 88 which 'nearestthe pivotal axis 82 of the head 88 is connectedto the pin 8.2 by a pair of linlm-fland 8'I. Thelink 88 is pivotally connected to the jawjmember by a pin 88 and is 'plvotally at the other end to the final limitations ofitheir inward movement toing walls or the-seal fac seal becausethey exert-a wedging action upon .are moved inwardly toward each other to eflect the operations upon the seal 88 which have previ-1 aoaasia end oi the other link are pivoted on'the pin a:

and spaced midway between the side plates 8I by sleeves I88. The link 88 hasone cofrner rounded as shown at 88* topermit its rotation in an upward direction in the slot 81' of the link 81 which receives the. end of the link 88, as shown particularly in Fig. 7, but the downward pivotal movement 01' the link 88 is prevented by the engagement of its rectangular upper corner with the end of this slot. When the two links 86 and 81 are in'alignment witheach other, as shown in Fig. 13, the axis of the pin 88 is located below or to the right of a plane containing the axes of the pins 88 and 82 so that the two links thus act as a toggle connection between the jaw members 88 and the pivotal'axis oi the head 88, so that rel-.

ative movement oi. the jaw members is prevented while the links occupy this position. This permits the head 88'to be moved downwardly by the operating lever 82 without relative movement of the jaw members and with this lever in the position shown in Fig. 13, until the seal 38 held between the jaws has been passed over the overlapping strap ends; At this point, the link-81 eiigagesa stop member I8I which is threaded to engage-an so that the lever 82 is then permitted to move in a forward direction about its pivot 88, thereby separating the upper arms 88 of the jaws 88 and causing the lower parts thereof to close-upon the strap and seal to effect the bending of the arms of the seal about the overlapping strap ends I aperture in the base plate 33 so that it may be and then the shearing oi the edges of the strap and seal.

In order to permit theseal t8 be inserted be-' tween the jaws with the head-88 in the upper between the jaws 88 until Y the lower edges of position shown in Fig, 13, one of the links 88 is provided with an elongatedslot '88" for engagethe side walls 88* thereof. snap into engagement with the recesses 88 be d thejawsfl The flar-' te this insertionof the the opposite jaw members which is adapted to separate them sufllciently to permit the seal to be snapped into. position. When theiseal is insert-- Fig. 18"so that the seal is thus positioned properly between the jaws with the middle'po'rtions oi the v seal in alignment with the cutting dies 81. when the seal a it thus inserted, it is held reemehuy in' position between the jaws by the action of a pin I88 iwhich is-mounted in a tubular passage I Ill-formed in one jaw member with its extremity, engaging the inner face of the other jaw member,

as shown in Fig. 13.; Theenlarged head of this pin is .slidably mounted in the enlarged portion I88 01 the-passage through the jaw member and; is engagedby a coil spring I88 mounted in this passage and held in position therein by a threadedkpluglli located in the end 01' the passage.

' This spring I85 may thus be adjusted to exert; the

desired pressure for separating the upper ends of the jaw members and causing the lower portions thereof to grip the side us the seal a.

The flange 81 of the base plate extends transversely of the baseplate for a considerable distance and underlies the forward portion of the block 58 which is secured upon the base plate,

as previously described. The base plate 33 hasanother forwardly projecting flange I01 which.

extends outwardly parallel to the flange 31, leav-' ing an inwardly projecting notch or opening I98, between these flanges, which is located in registry with the path of movement of the jaws 83.

.as they are lowered, so that the jaws may be ping dog 41, the supply portion 21 of closed about the, seal and strap in this opening I while'the strap is supported on the adjacent flanges 31 and I01, the-latter of which is beveled on its upper side at itsrforward end to permit the convenient insertion of the strap. At the com mencement of the operation of applying a strap.

21 around abox or package, the free end 21 of the strap is flrst inserted between the gripping dog35 and the flange 31 of the base plate with the extremity of the strap projecting across the opening I08 and resting upon the flange I01, as shown in Fig; 8. The strap is then passed around the box or package and the-portion 21 thereof.

which is connected to the source of supply is then passed beneath the gripping dog 41 so that it is held against the flange 49 carried by th ovable block 44. After being passed beneath he grip-' the slot 35in the -gripping dog 35. The cutting die III) has the form shown particularly in Fig. 15, being provided with two-oppositely extending plates I I0 each of which has a cutting edge 0 At itsv middle point, the die has an upwardly extending lug III) which is apertured for engagement by. atbolt III by which it is secured to a flange 58 formed on the block 58. When thus secured in place by the bolt II l,the lower edge off the die IIU ests upon the upper surface ofthe base plate. e under portions of'the' forward edges of thehlades III) of the die H0 are inclined upwardly as shown at I I0, in Figs. 13 and 16, to" facilitate the insertion beneath this cutting blade of the free end portion 21 of the strap. Thebolt III may be removed and'the die I-III re-- versed in its position in order to bring its other cutting edge into operation.

After the strap has been placed in the position described in the last paragraph, the lever 10.15 moved rearwardly, toward the left as viewed- 'in Fig. .13, thus causing the lever 90 to assumethe position illustrated by dotted lines in Fig. '7,

with the result that the bar 49 and block 44 are moved toward the left, as viewed in Figs. '1 and 8: This causes the supply end 21 'of the strap to be carried with the block by the gri ping do g A1, with theresult that the strap is drawn taut around the' box or package.- The degree of tightening which is effected by a singleoperation of the hand lever 10 may be varied by adjusting the initial position of the block 44 through ma-' nipulation of the adjustable stop member 59, illustrated in Fig. 7. After a seal 30 is inserted between the jaws 88min the manner describede strap is lever 19, and the operator 92 forwardly, toward the right as, viewed in Fig. 13,- thereby causing the head '89 to lower without any relative movementof the 'jaws' 83 and without any pivgtal movement of the lever 92 with respect to the head 80, until the link 91. engages the stop member m and break s the toggle connection previously described. During this pre-' liminary movement of the head.8Il,'- the stretched strap is cut oil?- from the source of supplyby the operation of a shearing lever Ill which carries a detachable cutting blade I15, having the form shown particularly in Figs. 13 and 14.

This shearing lever I I4 is m the form of a ten crank lever pivoted at an intermediate point on the bolt I I I, previously described The upwardly I above, the strap is drawn taut by operating the en moves the handle extending arm II 4 of this lever is pivotally connected through a pin II6 with a link II1 which is in .turn pivotally attached by a pin 1 I I8 to one bf the side plates 8| of the head 98. A coil spring II9 is-connected to the pin H6 at one end and has its other end attached byta screw I2Il-to the lower portion of one of the-posts '15 carried .by the base plate so that this spring tends normally .to rock the shearing lever II4. in a direction to elevate the arm I! thereof upon which the blade H5 is seemed in a recess by the screw Ill. The .action of this spring 9 tends also to elevate the head 80 about thepin 82 and the extent to which this upward movement of the head 80 and the shearing lever I I4 I is permitted is determined by the engagement of the rearwardly extending flange I" of the lever II4 with the upper surface of the sliding.

bar 46; As the head 80 is, lowered in the manner just referred to by a forward pressure on the lever 92,-the first effect oil. the downward movement of the head is to lower the shearing lever II4 against the action of the spring II9 until the shearing blade I li flnally engages the upper supply portion of the strap 21 and shears it oflf by cooperation with the underlying cutting die IIII. Immediately after the strap is cut off from thesource of supply by the action ofv the shearing blades III! and II5,the seal 30 carried between the jaws 83 engages 'the upper end ,portion of the strap Whitlh has just been cut of! -from the source of supply and forces it downwardly against theunderlying end portion '21". Assoon as this has occurred", the link '91 engages the previously adjusted stop member IOI to break the toggle connection formed *by' the links 96 and 91 so that these links then move upwardly, as illustrated in Fig. 1'1, while the forward motion of the lever 92 is then permittedto separate the upper arms 83 of the laws and to cause the lower parts 83'? of these jaws to bend the I walls 3ll of theseal' inwardlybeneath the over lapping strap ends, causing them to assume 'the relationship shown in Fig. 17. The continued 'motion of the lever 92 and further movement.

of the jaws 89 causes these jaws to eflect the transverse shearing of the edges of the strap and'seal by the operation of the shearing dies 81, as shown in Fig. 20, thereby resulting in the creation of the form of interlocking joint which is shown in Figs. 3 to 6, inclusive. When that operation is completed, the lever 92 is moved toward the left as shown in Fig. 16, thereby releasing the lower parts of the laws 83 from engagement with the. strap and seal and then effecting the elevation of the head 80 and the shearing lever I which then assume their normal upper positions, in which retained by the spring us, as illustrated in Fig. 13. The operator then reverses the motion 01' the Stretching.

lever 10 with the result that the block is moved toward the right, as viewed in Fig. 7,

5 therebyreleasing the sealed strap from the grip or the dog 41. The tool may then be moved toward the left, as viewed in Fig. '7, andaway from' the strap to release the strap from the dog 35, so that the strap is then permitted to snap downwardly into close contact (with the top surface of the box or package. The tool of the present invention thus provides a simple and eflicicnt device by which the strap mayfirst be drawn taut around the box or package, then out ofi from the source of supply, and finally sealed by the bending and shearing of a channel-shaped seal which is held in position by the tool itself during the stretching, cutting and sealing operation. I Although one form of the invention has been shown and described by way of illustration, it

means including a toggle connection between one oi said jaws'and said base plate {or preventing relative movement lot said jaws until a predeter mined movement of said head has taken place.

2. The combination in a sealing device, of a base plate, a movable head mounted on said base plate, a pair of relatively movable jaws mounted 40 on said head, means'for causing said jaws to hold an open seal inserted between them, means for effecting relative movement of {said jaws to bend said seal about overlapping strap ends, a

pair of links forminga toggle connection between one of said jaws and said base plate mnormally preventing reiativemovement of said jaws, and an adjustable stopmember carried by said base plate for coactingwith one 01' said links and breaking said toggle connection after a predetermined movement 'of saidhead.

, 3. The combination in a strap sealing device,

of a movable head, a pair of jaws pivotally mounted onsaid head and adapted to receive an open seal between them, an operating lever pivotally mounted on said head, operating connec- .tions between saidlevr and said jaws including means for-permitting a limited relative movement of said jaws without movement of said lever, and resilient means for causing said jaws toexert pressures: the sidesof an open seal placed between th 4. The combination ina strap sealing device,

of a movable head, a pair ofjawspivotally mountedon said headand adapted to receive an open seal between them; an operating lever pivotally mounted on said head, operating connections between said lever and ,said jaws including means for-permitting a limitedrelative move-' ment of" said jaws without movement oi said f'lo lever, resilient means for causing-said jaws. to

exert pressure on the sides of an open between them, means &

movement'oi said jaws b saidleverduring the initial movement oi' said irom its normal "76 position, and means tor-releasing saidlast named for relative means and thereby permitting actuation of said jaws by said lever to bend said seal about overlapping strap ends.

5. The combination in .a sealing device for overlapping strap ends, 01' a pair ofrelatlvely 5 movable jaws adapted to receive achannelshaped seal between them, said jaws having inwardly directed parts adapted to overlap the side walls of said seal,'and resilient means for causing said jaws to exert pressure on said side 10 walls. d

' 6. The combination in a sealing device, of a pairot pivotally mounted jaw members having inwardly directed jaws adapted to receive a channel-shaped seal between them, said jaws 15 having parts adapted to overlap the edges of the side walls of said seal, said. jaw membershaving arms extending on the opposite'sides of their pivotal axes from, said seal-engaging jaws, and means for exerting a resilient pressure on said 20 arms to cause said jaws to hold said seal in position to embrace overlapping strap ends. 1

7. The combination in a sealing device, oi a pair of pivotally mountedjaw members having. inwardly directed jaws adapted to receive a chan- 2 6 nel-shaped seal between them, said jaws having parts adapted to overlap the edges of the side j walls of said seal, said jaw members having arms extending on the opposite sides of their pivotal y axes from said seal-engaging jaws, means for 30 exerting a resilient pressure-on-said arms tocause said jaws to hold said seal in position to embrace overlapping strap ends, and actuating means engaging said arms 01 said jaw members for eflecting relative movement thereof to bendthe side 35 walls of said seal about said strap ends.

8. The combination in a seaiingdevice, of a pair .oi relatively movable members adapted to receive between them achannel-shaped seal, said members having oppositely disposed r 40,

adapted to be engaged by projections on said' 9. The combination in a sealing device, of a airof. relatively movable members adapted to eceive between them a channel-shaped seal, said 45 members having oppositely disposed recesses adapted to be engaged by projections on said seal, andshearing dies moimted in said recesses for engaging said seal after a predetermined relative movement of said members. so

, 10. The combination in a sealing device, ota movable head, a pair oijaws pivotally mounted on said head to receive -a channe1-shaped seal between them, said jaws having notches to receive projections carried by said seal, means for 55 causing said jaws to hold said seal between them, means for moving said head to cause said seal to embrace overlapping strap ends, cutting dies carried by said jaws, and means for eiiecting relative movement of said laws'aiter said move- 60 mento't said head for shearing the edges of said strap.

11. The combination in a sealing devicetor connecting overlapping strap .ends, of a pair of relatively movable jaws having. oppositely 1118- so a sealing device ior strap from the source of supply after it has been .channel-shaped seal having outwardly flared side walls, said jaws having oppositely disposed notches adapted to receive theedges oi said-side walls, and means for causing said jaws to hold' said seal in position therein, said jaws'having notches therein to engage projections i'orm'edon 7 said side walls of the seaL.

versible shearing blade detachably, secured on said'base plate, and a movable blade adapted to cooperate with said reversible blade to sever the drawn taut;

14. The combination in a strap stretching device, of a base plate, a pair of gripping devices carried by said base plate for pping the end portions of a strap looped around a' package,

, head has been lowered to position said seal over 15 means for efiecting relative. movement of said gripping devices to draw said strap taut, a re- .versible shearing blade detachably secured on said base plate, a movable blade adapted to cooperate with said reversible blade to sever the jstrap'irom' the source orsupply after it has been drawn taut, means carried by said base plate for applying a seal to the ends of said strap to form an interlocking joint, and means for actuating said movable blade when said last named means is operated.

15. The combination in a strap stretching and sealing device, of a base plate, strap stretching means carried bysaidbase plate for drawing a strap, taut around a package-with it's'ends overlapping above and parallelitq an edge-oi said plate,.means for operating said stretchin means, a head comprising 'a pair of side plates pivoted on and adjacent to said base plate and adapted to swing toward said overlapping strap ends, a pair of jaws pivotally mounted between said side plates and having oppositely disposed 5.

hook portions adapted to engage and hold the walls of a channel-shaped seal positioned between them, an operating lever connected to said jaws and pivotally mounted'between said side plates, said lever being adapted to swing about 10 an axis parallel to the pivotal axis ofsa'id-side plates, and dies carried by said'jaws tor deforming said seal and said overlapping strap ends upon relative movement of said Jaws after said said overlapping strap ends.

16. The combination in a strap stretching and sealing. device, of a base plate, strap stretching means carried by said base plate for drawing a strap taut around a packagewith its ends over- 20 lapping above the edge of said plate, means including a lever movable transversely to said strap for operating said strap stretching means, a head pivotally mounted on said plate, a pair- 0! j'aws carried by said head and adapted to receive and; 25 hold an open channel-shaped seal between them,

an operating lever carried by said head and connected to effect relative movement-oi said jaws, means operatively connectedwith said jaws for preventing relative movement thereof when pres sureis initially applied to said lever whereby said initial pressure eflects bodily movement of said head toward the strap ends, and means adapted toactuate said last named means to permit rela-- tive movement of said jaws uponjurthermovement of said lever in the same direction for effecting the deformation oi'the strap ends and said seal to form an interlocking joint.

WHHAMQCHILDRESS. 

